Chuck Pagano inspiration for Indianapolis Colts

The Indianapolis Colts were 1-2 and in the midst of their bye week when first-year coach Chuck Pagano was diagnosed with leukemia in late September. The shocking revelation could have been devastating to a young, rebuilding team. Instead, it has proven to be unifying.

The Indianapolis Colts were 1-2 and in the midst of their bye week when first-year coach Chuck Pagano was diagnosed with leukemia in late September.

The shocking revelation could have been devastating to a young, rebuilding team. Instead, it has proven to be unifying.

The Colts have won five of six games since, including a come-from-behind victory over the powerful Packers and a pair of road games. They’ve played their way into the playoff conversation and have become one of the NFL’s feel-good stories.

“I think when football teams bond together and put egos aside, some call it chemistry, teams that go to the Super Bowl, honest to God care about each other,” interim coach Bruce Arians said yesterday during a conference call from Indianapolis. “Offense, defense, special teams — there are no egos on who’s getting the credit.

“This team found a purpose — unfortunately because our coach got sick, and that’s a shame. He’s fighting for his life, and it’s nothing more than asking, ‘How about we go fight for every game and extend this season until he can come back?’ ”

The Colts will meet the Patriots here Sunday in a nationally televised contest of 6-3 teams. They’re looking to extend their winning streak to five games while helping their coach the only way they really can.

“They want to win for him,” Arians said. “They’ll do whatever it takes for us to be successful. Sacrifice whatever it takes to be successful and play their tails off. All we can do is continually try to make this season go further to get him back.”

The Colts have Dec. 30 circled on their calendars. That’s their regular-season finale, against the AFC South rival Houston Texans, and the hope is Pagano will be healthy enough to lead them out of the tunnel and onto the turf at Lucas Oil Stadium.

“If all things go well,” Arians optimistically said.

Just in case Pagano is unable to return to work by then, the Colts are doing everything they can to extend the season and buy him some more time.

“I think that each man in the locker room, each coach and everybody in the Colts organization, is striving to do the same thing,” Arians said of making the playoffs, something that seemed silly at the start of the season, what with the Colts having won just two games last year. “When you have everybody on the same page and you take egos out of it, you play your best football.”

A couple of dozen of the players have shaved their heads in support of Pagano, who is currently undergoing another round of chemotherapy. However, the biggest way they’ve shown support is by taking a professional approach to an emotional situation.

“I think the guys have handled it very well,” rookie quarterback Andrew Luck said. “Coach Arians has done a great job. Most importantly, Chuck built a great foundation, and I think everybody realizes what his vision was, and it’s easy to buy into that.

“I think Coach Arians has a great feel for what the next steps are, and obviously Chuck’s still very heavily involved through text messages and phone calls and all that. I think it’s easy when you have a good plan; it’s easy for us players to buy in.”

Pagano addressed the team in person after the Colts defeated the Miami Dolphins at home Nov. 4. As Luck mentioned, Pagano remains in constant contact with the coaching staff.

“It’s great, the technology today,” Arians said. “You can Skype and do all of that stuff and streamline the practices. He’ll have the practice all graded by the time we get out of meetings, and he’ll be texting (defensive coordinator) Greg (Manusky) or myself and talking. So there is an open line of communication all the time.”

Whether the Colts are legitimate playoff contenders is a matter of opinion. But everyone agrees Pagano’s fight with cancer has fueled their turnaround.

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